Trolley for electric railways.



PATENTED' MAY 29 E: F. GREEVY. TROLLEY FOR ELECTRIC R AILWAYS.

APPLIGATION FTL ED JULY 11, 1900.

8 SHEETSSHEET 1.

No. 821,611. PATENTED MAY 29, 1906. E F. GREEVY.

TROLLEY FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 11. 1900.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

PATENTED MAY 29 1-]. F. GREEVY. TROLLEY FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED JULYll, 1900.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

irrrnn s rains EDWVARD F. OREEVY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TROLLEY FOR ELECTRIC RAIL AYS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Iratented May 29, 19(z6.

Application filed July 11.1900. Serial No. 23,190.

To In whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD F. OREEVY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolleys for Electric Railways, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to trolleys for electric railways, and more particularly to that class of electric railways in which the electric current is conveyed through conduits located beneath the track. Heretofore in railways of this class it has usually been necessary to provide a conduit beneath the center of each track, thereby necessitating a separate and distinct excavation for each track. Obviously if the track is already. laid this necessitates interruption of traflic and non-use of the road or part of the same for considerable intervals of time.

My invention contemplates a conduit located at the side of the track and in the case and of such a nature that the same may be constructed without interruption of traffic or serious inconvenience and into which the trolley projects from the side of the car.

The inventionv consists in the matters hereinafter described, and more fullypointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of two parallel tracks having conduits provided with trolleys embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly broken, of the trolley. Fig. 4 is a sectlon on line 11 11 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but'showing the trolley-shaft in longitudinal section and illustrating the wiring. tion of the trolley-carrier. Fig. 7 is a rear end elevation of the same. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively details of pivotal devices for the trolley-arm.

In said drawings, in which the invention is shown as applied in a double track, the rails of which are indicated by L L, respectively, A indicates a frame or casting adapted to be set in the roadway between said tracks. As shown, the same is symmetrical and forms the frame for a double conduit, one for each of said tracks and located on the adjacent -to firmly hold the same in place.

Fig. 6 is a side eleva sides of the same. Said frames are provided above each conduit-opening with upwardly extending parts a a, forming between the same a slot to receive a trolley-arm. The top of said frame, as shown, is approximately straight and is provided at the ends with projections a, adapted to form supports for the adjacent or inside rails of each track, as shown in Fig. 1. relatively broad to afford adequate support for The base of said casting-frame is the track-bed and street above the same. B

indicates a trolley-arm attached to a car, extending downwardly tl'irough said slot into said conduit. The lower end of the same, as shown, is provided with a contact device consisting of a shaft B, provided on each end with a trolley-wheel b 1), adapted to run on electrical conducting wires or rails secured on each side of the conduit on arms extcnd ing therefrom and herein indicated as a Said frames A are bedded in the road-bed, as shown in Fig. 1, the inner adjacent rails of the track resting on each. end of the same and are surrounded by concrete or other desiredother insulating material, through which passes one member a of the clamp, which is provided on its lower end with a nut adapted a indicates the opposite member of the clamp, similar in shape to the upper of the clamping member a and adapted to be secured thereto by means of a transverse bolt. On the adj acent faces of the upwardly-extending parts a a on said frames on each side of the trolley-slot are secured, as shown, plates a preferably-of metal, and secured thereto by bolts or like means and extending between the frames, as indicated in Fig. 2. Said plates are adapted to afford a smooth vertical wall for said slot between the frames. Said frames may be placed any desired distance apart and obviously, if preferred, may be m ade single instead of double to be used for a single track.

In a construction of this class it is desirable that the trolley or contact device used therewith possesses a maximum of flexibility to adapt itself to the motion of the car, which not only has lateral swing or sway, but also a vertical oscillation due in partto inequalities in the track. Said trolley or contact device is constructed as follows: The transverse axle B constructed of wood or other insulating material, is provided at its ends with grooved trucks or contact-wheels b. As shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, said wheels I) are secured in said axle B by means of fittings or caps 1), adapted to clamp onto the end of said axle and provided with an axial bearing adapted to receive the stubaxle b of metal. A bolt passes transversely through said fitting and said stub-axle, as indicated in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, and rigidly holds the same from rotation. Obviously said fittings b may be at any time tightenedupon the axle by means of said bolt. The trolley-wheels b b are ro tatively ournaled upon said stub-axles and are secured thereon by means of a cotter-pin or the like. Said shaft B is pivoted in the trolley-arm B as follows: Said trolley-arm is provided at its lower end with an enlarged ead B transversely apertured to receive the shaft B and consisting of a fitting b rigidly bolted on each side of the lower extremities of the same and rovided therein with horizontal bearing-sockets adapted to receive the trunnions b b of a ring B which is rigidly secured centrally on said shaft, as is shown in dotted lines on Fig. 3. Said shaft is then inserted in the aperture in the head of the trolley-arm, wh ch is elliptical in crosssection, or, in other words, of greater diameter vertically than horizontally. The fittings 5 bolted to the trolley-arm, hold said axle in position, while permitting the axle ends to have considerable amplitude of movement vertically. Said trolley-arm B extends upwardly and forwardly, as shown, in a compound curve, and the same at its lower end in said slot is relatively broad longitudinally of the slot and thin transversely thereof to afford the requisite strength and yet not require said slot to be objectionably wide. At its upper end it passes through the rearwardly-directed end of a yoke 13*. The inner end of said trolley-arm passes inwardly between the arms 19 b of said yoke and passes centrally through a collar B provided at its upper and its lower'side with a conical socket adapted each to receive the complemental head of the studs 13 B which pass through the arms of the yoke on each side of said collar and are at all times held extended in engagement therewith by means of the springs b b, which are secured on said studs and engage with one end the head thereof and with the other end the inner side of the yoke-arms, respectively. The trolley-arm is ournaled in the head of said yoke by means of a shaft B which passes transversely through the same and is provided with bearings in the yoke-head on each side of the same. A cap 12 forming the upper part of the bearing, is adapted to fit over said shaft or trunnions and is rigidly secured in place by means of bolts or the like. B indicates a laterally-directed arm rigidly secured to the yoke B and adapted at its inner end for engagement with one of the truck-frame members of a car, (indicated by F.) Said trolley-arm being pivoted on the shaft B necessarily permits considerable vertical oscillation of the car without affecting the trolley, inasmuch as the springs b b are adapted to sustain a portion of the weight of the trolley and yield sufficiently to permit the desired freedom of motion. The electrical connection from said trolley-wheel b is made by means of a wire 5 which leads from the end of the stud-shaft 6 through the shaft B to said trolley-arm and is' led upwardly therefrom on the rear side of the same to a motor secured on the car and of any desired form.

The operation of my device is as follows: The trolley-wheels passing along the conductor rails or Wires transmit the current through the trolley to the motor and the axle on which they are journaled being hung so as to allow considerable vertical movement of its ends, the wheels will at all times rest upon their re spective rails and the danger of cutting off motive circuit be thereby obviated, while differences between the planes of the trolleyrails and the track are provided for by having the trolley-arm ivoted in the yoke.

Obviously a troi ley constructed in this manner will be adapted to adjust itself to inequalities in the track and trolley-rails and can be easily and cheaply installed after the road-bed and track have been laid without seriously interfering with the same.

I claim as my invention 1. In a device of the class described, a trolley-arm adapted to be pivotally supported upon a car or the like and to depend therefrom into a conduit the lower end of said arm being provided with a centrally-apertured head said aperture in said head having greater diameter vertically than horizontally, an axle pivoted in said aperture transversely of the trolley-arm and adapted to oscillate vertically and means for holding said axle in rigid alinement longitudinally of said trolley-arm.

2. In a device of the class described, a trolley-axle comprising a central shaft of nonconducting material provided centrally with a circumferential band or ring provided on opposite sides with trunnions, means at each end of said axle for securing thereon a trolley a trolley-wheel and electrical connections communicating with the same.

3. In a device of the class described, a trolley-axle comprising a central shaft of nonconducting material provided centrally with ICC a circumferential band or'ring provided on opposite sides with trunnions, whereby'the axle is pivoted to a trolley-arm, stub-shafts secured at each end of said axle, trolleywheels thereon and conductors leading inwardly from said stub-shafts and adapted to be connected with a motor.

4. The combination with a trolley-arm pivoted laterally on a car and adapted to oscillate vertically and laterally and extending at its lower end within a conduit located below and at one side of the track, an apertured head at the lower end of said trolleyarm and means for securing an axle therein acting to permit vertical oscillation of the ends thereof.

5. The combination with a trolley-arm adapted to be pivoted laterally on a car and to extend downwardly within a conduit below the same, of an axle pivoted at the lower end of said trolley-arm, a trolley-wheel at each end of said axle adapted for contact in said conduit with a conductor and conductor-wires having contact with said trolleywheels and leading therefrom to a motor supported on the car.

6. In a device of the class described a trolley-arm adapted to depend within a conduit, means adapted to permit vertical oscillation only of said arm, comprising a yoke secured on a car-frame provided at its end with a bearing adapted to receive lateral trunnions on said trolley-arni, the upper end of said trolley-arm being directed forwardly and adapted tobe engaged between oppositelyacting springs secured between the yokearms.

7. In a device of the class described, a rearwardly and downwardly directed trolley-arm provided at its lower end with a head adapted to afford engagement for a vertically-os-- cillating axle provided at its ends with contact devices, means for permitting said trolley-arm to oscillate vertically comprising a bearing supported from a car or the like and beyond which the upper end of said trolleyarm extends, and springs engaging said end of said trolley-arm and acting to hold the same in operative position.

8. The combination with a vertically-oscillating trolley-arm adapted to depend within a conduit and provided at its lower end with a laterally-apertured head, an axle of non-conducting material pivoted in the aperture in said head and provided at its ends;

with clamps adapted to engage metallic stubaxles, a trolley-wheel on each stub-axle and a conductor located within the axle leading from each stub-axle upwardly along the trolleyarm and adapted to afford electrical con nection with an electric motor.

9. The combination with a rearwardly and downwardly directed trolley-arm adapted to be pivoted on a car-frame and adapted to oscillate vertically while rigidly secured from lateral oscillation, and provided at its lower end with a head having a lateral aperture extending therethrough, an axle of nonconducting material provided centrally with laterally-directed trunnions having a bearing in forwardly and rearwardly directed sockets in said head opening into said aperture, contact devices secured on each end of said axle and conductors connected with said contact devices and leading through said axle and upwardly along said. trolley-v arm.

10. The combination with a downwardly and rearwardly directed trolley-arm having an apertured head on the lower end thereof of a shaft pivoted at its center in said head and adapted for vertical oscillation, an adjustable cap on each end 'of said head, an axle rigidly engaged. therein, a wheel journaled on each axle and an electrical conductor connecting said axles.

11. In a device of the class describedthe combination with a trolley-arm of a transversely-apertured head thereon, a shaft adapted to extend through said head, a ring rigidly engaged centrally on said shaft and provided with trunnions adapted to engage in sockets in said head, a trolley-wheel journaled at each end of said shaft, a conductorwire extending through the shaft and connecting said wheel with the trolley-arm and means permitting vertical oscillation of said trolley-arm.

12. In a device of the class described the combination with a trolley-arm of a transverse shaft pivoted centrally at one end thereof, means on each end of said shaft adapted to engage electrical conductors, a yoke affording a pivotal support for said arm and springs in said. yoke adapted to normally hold said arm centrally thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD F. CREEVY.

In presence of- CHARLES W. HILLS, LoUIs J. DELsoN. 

